The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-10-17
AT CHURCH DOOR,.
MILLIONAIRE 1,Awsos MURDERED
By his Step.son In Cold blood, whiio Lenv.
Ing n House Of worshIp-Tragic story F,
OF Marital unhappiness-sonsntio
Developments In GreAt Scandal,

fashionable congregations In Chicago
grey.haired millionaire bank preslden
was remoraelessly shot to-day by hi
step.son 10 avenge or shield woman
charged with continued adultery. The
woman was no less person than Mrs
Meckie Rawson, vile Of the great banker
and mother Of the assailant. The banker
ia Stephen W. RawBon, President OF the
Union Trust Company, Of Chicago. vii.
liam Lee, aged II, ia the etep.aon. Banke,
Rawson with five bullets in his body and
apparently in dying condition was hast.
lily picked of tho blood.spattered curb
and bundled into one Of the score Of car.
riages that had been waiting for tho
wealthy worshippers. Young Lee, with
his empty and still smoking revolver in
hand, was arrested and thrown into a
strikingly different conveyance, the blue
painted commonplace wagon OF the near-
est police patrol that came around the
corner. Away went tho carriage In ono
direction, of in the other dashed the
patrol, while all around on the streets and
Bidewa,ka gaped the horror.stricken at.
tendants OF the five great churches in the
vicinity, just pouring out Of tho morning q
praise oil Him who commanded, "Thou
shalt not kill" Slowly the crowds began
to recover their dazsd aenses and recall in
detail the fearful circumstances Of tho
crime.
Young Lee had been seen for half an
hour previous pacing tho stone sidewalk
on Aahland avenue, neas Madison, 'front.'
ing tho Third Presbyterian church, OF
this church banker Rawson haa been a
leading light and was still an honored
member, notwithstanding that he had
been charged by his wife with perjury
and other olfen5es enough to make him,
II true, vsritable whited sepulchre. He,
on the other hand, alleged that ahe, al.
though prominent in society. and heau.
titul woman In appearance, was really 4
diareputable, blssphemous, deyiliah.
pered adyenturese, who coveted only his
money. For year or more the two have
been fighting each other in tho divorce
courts, and within a week tho banker has
6led against her additional charges Of
adultery. l.
Little attention had been paid to young
Lee as he stalked backward and for ward
past the church entrance. He Was Lost
in the crowd when the gaily dressed con-
gre2atlon began to come out, among them
the well known form OF the bank Presi.
dent. Mr.. Rswson was about atepping
into his carriage. when between the sweet
majestic tones Of the crest organ came
the sharp crack Of q revolver, followed by
q deep g,oan; with the ethed cry, "Im
killed." The aged millionaire fell pros.
trate on this stone flags, upturning his
agonizsd whita face Of the cold set coun-
tenance OF his atepaon.
The crowd seemed rooted to the stones
in horror, and apparently helpieas, until
q policeman came running to the eceue,
Then began wild clamor, and Lee, turn
ing to the officer, hosraely Whispered,
"TAgE NE TO lAIL QUICK"
Itseemed scarcely a moment until tho
patrol wagon bore him away. When the
dying banker reached his home aix ply
sicians had been called, They probed for
the bullets and found that ali had lodged
IN the legs or arms save one. That or
tered near the small OF the back and near.
ly as could be Judged had plunged through
his abdomen. II his life was saved it
would be little short oi miracle.
Over at the police station, young Lee
was asking q reporter to carry Mrs. Raw.
son, his mother, the news. She occupied
apartments at the Continental hotel. The
reporter sent up word TINT he hsd ex.
tremely important business and vas psa-
scented without delay to plump, dark
|comple1ioned, handsome woman in the
prime OF life, the mott notiesabls feature OF
whom wss pair OF snapping black e;es.
The reporter then related the facts oi
the case. sud saked, "What do you think
1t was dona .or2" In On instant Mss.
RsHson was transformed. Her black eyes
flashed the Ere OF deadly hstyed, sud she
seemed to quiyer from heaL to foot.
"What do think OF liz" che cried; ~
an glad OF it. He deserved it," She
stopped Just long enough to catch her
breath. HWsat was it done for? Bacauae
Rawson bes lnats u!n ont on the streets to
be pnblic prostitute. III stand by ihs
boy" she cried, raiaing har Drfp vii. o
dramatic gesture. "He did no more than
any boy would do. He ID tho son OF bis
mother" Then she began 10 pace To and
ifo, over Ike heavily ca5ps.ed Aoor. ~
intended 10 do it nyEai," she exclaimed,
suddenly stopping in tho sGiddsc Of the
room.
"Did your son know oi yous intention 7"
She turned 4 wicked luui. on he. uu0e.
toner. and sad aharply: ~ do not know.
LIE might hSSG known it. Un Buraly
knew hc desasved II. I'm g!ad ol it. lie
deserves all he got"
- When, shortly afterwarI, youny,i. .ee, III
his cell at tho police a:a!l6n, saw . Is.
porter approaching, he jumped up nj.
ruptly and without waiting 4 question de-
clarcd:
II have nothing Shst6ger 10 Hay tx-
cept that l am entirely fesyohRijl0. II
was
WHOLLY Ny owS ACT.
My mother knows absolutely nothing OF
It," Being further urgod he burst out:
"He tried to prove my mother an as:uL
terese. IN adventurous. Now he wanted
10 prove my s.s,er III iIlegtinate child,
ind that's all will Bay"
The career 6i the yda3e man'S mother
10 IN many rcHpects remarkable. Sho has
been married several times and divorced
once, and Ga department clerk In the
Government anrviHe Mt Warrington 10
undcrbtc0d to have been concerned in
somo decidedly Sensational inGdunia, u
au az the ponBo1gor Of considerable resi-
estate In Chicago ,ha. she rst became
acquainted v lth Rawaon. Their marriage
Soon followed; that waB about five or six
years. ngo. ;.c~son 10 81 yoara old, and,
By *i'e claitna, Ehgsically wreck.
Whatever was the csuao Of thbir disputes
the matter finally wont to the cour,o,
On september q, l8SG, Mrs. Eswson's